Container for use in cleansing jewelry

ABSTRACT

A container for use in cleansing jewelry wherein a basket, adapted to hold the jewelry to be cleaned, is supported in an elevated position in the container, the basket and associated jewelry being submersible in cleaning fluid contained in the container, the basket being supported in the elevated position within the container to allow the jewelry to drip dry. Covers are provided on the basket and container, respectively, to prevent the jewelry from being dislodged from the basket during the submerging of the jewelry in the cleaning fluid, and to prevent spillage of the fluid from the container and evaporation of the fluid therefrom during the drip drying of the jewelry.

United States Patent Stohlman 1 51 July 15, 1975 [54] CONTAINER FOR USE IN CLEANSING FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS JE ELRY 1,901 2/1886 United Kingdom 99/319 [76] Inventor: John F. Stohlman, 27507 Mount 10,298 5/1901 United Kingdom". 99/318 Radnor Rd, Damascus, Md, 20750 265.188 9/1927 United Kingdom..,. 99/319 345,764 4/1931 United Kingdom... 99/410 [221 Flledi June 1973 165,842 2 1934 Switzerland 134/137 [21] Appl. No.; 374,971

Primary Examiner-Daniel Blum [52 U.S. c1. 134/135; 134/117; 206/205; F"m Brady O Boyle & Oates 220/17 151 1111. (:1 .1 B08b 3/04 1 1 ABSTRACT 1581 held of Search 99/318 A container for use in cleansing jewelry wherein a bas- 99/413 4151 134/] 137 ket, adapted to hold the jewelry to be cleaned, is supported in an elevated position in the container, the 156] References cued basket and associated jewelry being submersible in UNITED STATES PATENTS cleaning fluid contained in the container, the basket 419,497 H1890 Caradine 4, 134/135 being supported in the elevated position within the 524,621 8/1894 Tinkle augn, 134/135 container to allow the jewelry to drip dry. Covers are 8.692 /1 01 R th v 1 v y v t y 99/319 provided on the basket and container, respectively. to 7931655 7/1905 l l 99/319 prevent the jewelry from being dislodged from the 5: a 93/319 basket during the submerging of the jewelry in the 985l76 2/191] j i' g cleaning fluid, and to prevent spillage of the fluid from 745:466 2/1930 the container and evaporation of the fluid therefrom 1.998.645 4/1935 Nessen 99/319 x durmg the P drymg of J 2.555,72O 6/1951 Wicgel 4 99/413 3,167,079 1 1965 W811 134/135 1 Clam" 6 D'awmg F'gum O I I O CONTAINER FOR USE IN CLEANSING JEWELRY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One of the requirements when wearing earrings. particularly rings to be worn in pierced cars. is to maintain the rings clean for hygienic purposes. After considerable research and experimentation. the container of the present invention has been devised for cleaning jewelry. particularly earrings. and comprises. essentially. a container adapted to hold a small volume of jewelry cleaning fluid. A basket containing the rings to be cleaned is removably mounted in the container from an elevated position to a submerged position in the cleaning fluid. the basket and associated jewelry being movable to the elevated position. whereby the rings may drip dry. A cover is provided on the basket to prevent the rings from being dislodged from the basket during their submersion in the cleaning fluid. and a cover is provided on the container to prevent not only spillage of the fluid but also the evaporation of the fluid therefrom during the drip drying of the rings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the container of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view. in section. of the container showing the basket in solid lines in the ele vated position. and in the submerged position in phantom;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the basket employed in the container of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the container with the cover and basket removed therefrom. and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the basket.

Referring to the drawings. and more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3 thereof. the container of the present invention comprises a receptacle I containing a volume of jewelry cleaning fluid 2. A plurality of circumferentially spaced flanges 3 are provided on the inner wall of the receptacle in proximity to the upper edge thereof for supporting a basket 4 above the surface of the cleaning fluid.

As will be seen in FIG. 4, the basket has a cylindrical side wall 4a and a mesh bottom wall 411. A plurality of circumferentially spaced flanges 4c are provided on the outer surface of the side wall 4a for engaging the flanges 3 in the receptacle whereby the basket is supported in the elevated position in the basket. A bail 4d is also connected to the side wall of the basket to facilitate the handling of the basket.

The basket is also provided with a mesh cover 5 removably mounted on the upper edge of the basket side wall by a plurality of depending fingers secured to the rim of the cover and frictionally engaging opposite sides of the basket side wall.

The receptacle 1 is also provided with a removable closure 6 to prevent spillage or evaporation of the cleaning fluid from the receptacle.

In using the container of the present invention. the jewelry to be cleaned, for instance earrings 7, are placed in the basket 4. The bail 4:! is grasped and the basket is rotated to align the basket flanges 4c with the spaces between the receptacle flanges 3, thereby allowing the basket containing its. earrings to be lowered into the cleaning fluidi as's'lgbwn in phantom in FIG. 2.

While in the lowered position. the basket is agitated in an oscillatory and rcciprocatory manner to cause the fluid to thoroughly wash the earrings. After the rings have been washed. the basket containing the rings is rcplaced on the receptacle flanges 3 to thereby allow the rings to drip dry.

It is intended that the container of the present invention be placed on the users dresser or vanity and that the earrings be washed soon after their removal from the users cars so that the drip drying of the earrings will take place during the non-use of the earrings.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the mesh cover 5 on the basket will prevent the earrings from becoming dislodged from the basket during the washing operation. while at the same time allowing the cleaning fluid to flow therethrough.

While the container of the present invention is adapted to be formed from corrosive-resistant plastics. it could also be formed from heavy glass to insure its stability on the dresser or vanity. and while the container has been described for cleaning earrings. it will be readily understood that the container can be employed equally well for cleaning other types ol'jewelry such as finger rings. pins and the like.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same. and that various changes in the shape. size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to. without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claim.

I claim:

I. A container for cleansing jewelry comprising. a re ceptacle adapted to contain a volume of cleaning fluid. a plurality of circumfcrentially spaced flanges provided on the inner surface of the receptacle at a location below the upper edge of the receptacle. a basket adapted to contain jewelry to be cleaned. said basket having a cylindrical side wall and a perforated bottom wall. a plurality of circumferentially spaced flanges provided on the basket side wall and adapted to seat on the receptacle flanges, whereby. in one position. the basket "is located above the surface of the cleaning fluid but below the upper edge ofthe receptacle. said basket being removable from said receptacle flanges and lowered into the cleaning fluid; the perforated bottom wall being provided by a mesh connected to the lower edge of the basket cylindrical side wall to form a supporting surface for the jewelry to be cleaned. a bail connected to the basket cylindrical side wall to facilitate moving the basket between the elevated and lowered positions; a mesh cover removably mounted on the upper edge of the basket side wall to prevent the jewelry from becoming dislodged from the basket during the washing of the jewelry while allowing the cleaning fluid to pass therethrough. said mesh cover being provided with depending finger means for frictionally engaging the basket side wall to thereby retain the mesh cover thereon. whereby the basket containing the jewelry to be cleaned is submerged in the cleaning fluid to thereby wash the jewelry, whereupon the basket containing the cleaned jewelry is supported on the receptacle flanges and wholly contained within the receptacle to thereby allow the jewelry to drip dry. and a cover removably mounted on the upper edge of the receptacle to prevent spillage and evaporation of the cleaning fluid dur ing the drying of the jewelry. 

1. A container for cleansing jewelry comprising, a receptacle adapted to contain a volume of cleaning fluid, a plurality of circumferentially spaced flanges provided on the inner surface of the receptacle at a location below the upper edge of the receptacle, a basket adapted to contain jewelry to be cleaned, said basket having a cylindrical side wall and a perforated bottom wall, a plurality of circumferentially spaced flanges provided on the basket side wall and adapted to seat on the receptacle flanges, whereby, in one position, the basket is located above the surface of the cleaning fluid but below the upper edge of the receptacle; said basket being removable from said receptacle flanges and lowered into the cleaning fluid; the perforated bottom wall being provided by a mesh connected to the lower edge of the basket cylindrical side wall to form a supporting surface for the jewelry to be cleaned, a bail connected to the basket cylindrical side wall to facilitate moving the basket between the elevated and lowered positions; a mesh cover removably mounted on the upper edge of the basket side wall to prevent the jewelry from becoming dislodged from the basket during the washing of the jewelry while allowing the cleaning fluid to pass therethrough, said mesh cover being provided with depending finger means for frictionally engaging the basket side wall to thereby retain the mesh cover thereon, whereby the basket containing the jewelry to be cleaned is submerged in the cleaning fluid to thereby wash the jewelry, whereupon the basket containing the cleaned jewelry is supported on the receptacle flanges and wholly contained within the receptacle to thereby allow the jewelry to drip dry, and a cover removably mounted on the upper edge of the receptacle to prevent spillage and evaporation of the cleaning fluid during the drying of the jewelry. 